My Singapore: Good as gold at 50
I can think of more than 50 reasons why I like to keep going back to Singapore. Literally, there’s a mouthful of reasons I can share — food glorious food! From no-fuss fast hawkers’ fare to five-star celebrity chef signature dishes, from Singapore’s iconic chili crabs and Hainanese chicken to assorted international offerings, your plate can’t wait and your palate is constantly dazzled. So, when in Singapore, expect your “eat-inerary” to be full to the brim.
Oh, yes, on this trip, we got to meet, up close and somewhat personal, some of Singapore’s homegrown celebrity chefs. Our first not-to-forget dinner was at Violet Oon’s Kitchen, a 50-seater bistro in a tony enclave at 881 Bukit Timah Road. Our gracious hostess with the mostest was Violet Oon herself who served us her Nyonya (Peranakan) cuisine — a mix of Chinese, Indian, Malay, and British dishes — from Violet’s roots, reflecting the beauty of Singapore’s cultural diversity. We just can’t leave Singapore without tasting Violet’s well- loved Hainanese Chicken Rice, a Singapore classic made with kampong chicken, fragrant rice infused with rich chicken stock and served with chili garlic sauce, ginger jam, and thick dark soya sauce. Violet’s guests also swear by her beef rendang, tender beef skin braised in a melange of spices flavored with kaffir and bay leaves in a dreamy, creamy coconut cream sauce. (For reservations, call +6564685430; email eat@violetoon.com.)
At Artichoke Cafe and Bar at 161 Middle Road, we were warmly welcomed by chef owner Bjorn Shen who whipped up for us his Middle Eastern specialties amid the most unpretentious ambience with cool music, friendly service, and badass vibe. We loved the plump and really tasty Lebanese fried chicken. There are assorted mezzes to kick off your meal, but of course, you can dive straight into the house bestsellers like the wood roasted pork ribs with coffee barbecue sauce, the chargrilled duck joojeh kebab with pomegranate glaze herb salad or the Moroccan bbq whole fish with lemon butter. (For reservations, call +6563366949.)
We missed chef Justin Quek at Sky on 57, where we were transported to food heaven with the celebrity chef’s Franco Asian offerings (house cured Scottish salmon, pan-roasted Farm Chicken Supreme with Sichuan pepper and chicken jus, and Strawberry and Pink Champagne Jelly for dessert) amid a relaxed, panoramic setting. (Sky on 57 is located at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, Tower 1, Level 57. For reservations, call +6566888857.)
We got to induldge in chef Jonathan Koh’s elegant plated Omakase-style lunch at a French restaurant named after the first wife of Sir Stamford Raffles (founder of Singapore), Olivia Cassivelaun Fancourt (OCF). With relish, we dug into the melt-in-your-mouth baked seabream sitting on leeks and blue mussel sauce as well as the divine dessert plate of Valrhona chocolates. (OCF is located at 1 Old Parliament Ln, Singapore. For reservations, call +6563339312.)
Will you go to Singapore to eat burgers? Yes, that is, if you’re having the burger at PS. Cafe, a cozy cafe tucked along Orchard Road, Palais Renaissance. Amid delightful, lush surroundings, the charming cafe’s claim to fame is its hearty take on classic cafe favorites, its truffle shoestring fries, indulgent cakes and pastries and, of course, its big fat burgers — like the crispy onion burger made of chargrilled Wagyu and US chuck patty topped with melted gruyere and mozzarella cheese, tomato, mesclun greens, sauteed mushrooms, and spiced crispy onions on toasted sesame buns with shoestring fries. (For reservations, call +6598348232.)
On a fine day, it’s also nice to cafe hop around Tiong Bahru’s vibrant community in downtown Singapore. Our tired feet took us to 40 Hands where coffee hounds were lining up for their afternoon caffeine fix and ordering the Cubanos mojo pork, honey-smoked ham, jalapeños, and cheese on crusty Tiong Bahru Bakery baguette to go with their coffee.
Likewise, we got to taste the best of Asian street gourmet food at the Malaysian Food Street in Resorts World Sentosa. Amid a unique old-town ambience, guests get to have their fill of Malaysia’s finest and most famous hawker foods, ranging from KL Claypot Rice to Penang Hokkien Mee (a poor man’s comfort food made of discarded prawn shells and tails tossed into a noodle Sbroth spiced up with fresh chili sauce) to Klang Bak Kut Teh, and a lot more. peaking of the Chinese soup bak kut
teh (meaty pork ribs simmered in a broth of assorted herbs and spices) that’s popularly served in Malaysia and Singapore, I had mine at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh, that must be so famous for this there was a long line at the door when I got there at 7:30 p.m. Good thing my friend Pauline Yip got there an hour earlier and I and my other Singaporean friends Awyong and Irene got there before somebody else could grab our table from Pauline. Once seated, we immediately ordered two bowls of bak kut teh — we opted for the Klang version, that is clear soup with peppery taste, over the Teochew version, which is cloudy soup with herbal taste. For a cool ending to a hot day, my Singaporean shipmate Ang Keng Leong treated us to some ice mountain dessert — my friends ordered the durian flavored one, which I could smell a mile away, while I got the mango flavor with bits of fresh mango.
But food is just one of the many reasons why you’ve got to visit Singapore as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee this year. The Lion City roars as it rolls out the red carpet and offers a series of promos and special unforgettable experiences for overseas guests to join in its Golden Jubilee celebrations. ( At the end of my trip, my Singaporean friend Awyong Thiam Seng got me a raffle ticket to join the Be A Changi Millionaire contest with a minimum spend of S$30 at any of the retail and F&B outlets at the Changi Airport, running until Oct. 31. Will I be taking the first SQ flight out of NAIA’s Terminal 3 to claim my prize at the grand draw next year? Guys, wish
me luck, okay?)
Millionaire or not, Singapore can make you feel like a million bucks with its unbeatable deals in airfares, hotel accommodations, shopping offers, and assorted privileges.
Named as the best place to visit in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2015, Singapore has lined up a year-long calendar of events and activities to celebrate this golden milestone. “This is the perfect time to visit Singapore to indulge in a bit of shop, eat, and play,” says Adrian Kong, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) area director for the Philippines and Brunei.
First off, fly to Singapore from Manila via Singapore Airlines, which offers irresistibly attractive fares. Don’t forget to check out the Singapore Explorer Pass, which allows you to enter nearly 23 different attractions like Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Zoo, and Alive Museum. Plus you get value-added benefits such as dining vouchers and even a pre-paid SIM card.
Dine and wine, shop till you drop, and unravel Singapore’s many attractions. When the day is done, get a good night’s slumber at one of the city’s best hotels. My home away from home in Singapore was Park Royal on Pickering, smack in the middle of the city’s pulsating Central Business District. It’s a refreshingly green hotel, too, with 15,000 square meters of lofty sky gardens and an exclusive rooftop Orchid Club lounge that offers 360-degree views of Singapore’s pulsating city skyline.
Now, here’s the deal: Choose from 20 of the top properties across five hotel groups for the “Stay 2 Nights, 3rd Night Free” promo for bookings made until Aug. 15, 2015.
But of course, there’s the Great Singapore Sale, the sale event to end all sales. Think eight weeks of fantastic shopping — from fashion to gadgets and gizmos to toys and whatnots. More, one lucky guest will be picked daily to win a cool S$500! So many things to buy and so little time? Fret not! There’s the Pedestrian Night on Orchard Road on the first Saturday of every month from July to December 2015. On Pedestrian Night, the stretch between Scotts Road and Bideford Road, covering 550 meters, is closed to vehicular traffic from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Organized by the Orchard Road Business Association and supported by Singapore Tourism Board, each night carries a different theme to rev up your shopping. When we were there last July 4, the theme was “Orchard Road Flash Sales” (think 50% off plus another 15% off your total bill at participating stores). “Be still my heart,” I overheard our lovely tour guide Josephine saying as we caught sight of the items on red tag sale. And our hearts swelled with pride as we listened to all-Pinoy band December Avenue regale shoppers.
Earlier, we got to cool down after a long hot day with a glass of sinfully delicious Valrhona milkshake laced with salted caramel and vanilla beans at Providore at Tangs. At Tangs, we met designer Goh Ling Ling, the talented lady behind the Ling Wu label known for its luxe leather handcrafted bags. We were also invited to party with Singapore’s A-listers, take a peep at the pop-up barbershop, and watch the men get their shoes shined.
On Aug. 1, it will be SG50 Red and White Party, which will feature stunning pieces of bespoke art by local talents. On Sept. 5, Orchard Road goes fast and furious. On Oct. 3, enjoy a family fiesta with a carnival of activities for the whole family. On Nov. 7, style yourself up with friends and family and take your best shot. On Dec. 5, feel the Christmas spirit on A Great Street and bask in a shimmering sea of festive lights.
To check out more exciting tourist promos and deals, and the latest details on Golden Jubilee offers, visit YourSingapore. com/goldenjubilee.
All ye assorted fashionistas out there should check out Keepers: Singapore Designer Collective, a collaborative showcase of local designers and artisans in fashion, accessories, furniture, homewares, perfume and, of course, food and beverage. At Keepers, we met master talesmith Quanda Ong of Gnome & Bow, whose bags have a story to tell (visit quanda@gnomenbow.com) and are as timeless as the stories that inspired them. There was also Putri Soediono or Pu Bu, founder/chief designer of Pu Bu Me Su. Says Pu Bu, “I design my bags with the idea of what women want — something different, timeless, practical. I encourage women to express their own individuality and style.”
And then there was thirtysomething designer Islean Valath who traded a bank job for her passion for fashion. Fascinated with geometric lines and structure, she experiments with shape through fabric.
So, what else did we do in Singapore aside from eat and shop and eat and shop?
Well, we visited the museums, chauffeured around by Johnson Ang, the most efficient and cheerful driver I’ve ever met. There’s the three-month-old Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris, the first branch in Asia Pacific of the renowned Pinacotheque de Paris, which aims to inspire creativity and dialogue, and promote the appreciation of arts on a daily basis.
But before the tour, we discovered the budding artist (or desperate non-artist) in us through the drawing session with the kind and patient Ron Stones.
Singapore’s Pinacotheque de Paris houses three main gallery spaces. The Collections Gallery houses a permanent collection of over 40 rare masterpieces (like Picasso’s 1948 “Woman in an Armchair” and Monet’s 1890 “Suzanne with Sunflowers” which portrays a 35-year-old terminally ill woman who died after sitting for Monet. The Features Gallery showcases blockbuster temporary exhibits, opening with “The Myth of Cleopatra.” Lastly, there’s the Heritage Gallery, which traces the history and civilization of Southeast Asia and Singapore through important Southeast Asian artifacts.
Imbibe art and Mexican cuisine at Myra’s: mushroom kurkurey, tandoori broccoli, Mexican prawns, chicken malai, and possibly one of the most delicious cakes I’ve ever tasted called Impossible Cake.
Before our Mexican snack, we dropped by Balzac Brasserie which was just opening that day (visit balzacbrasserie.com). Jean-Charles Dubois was in the thick of preparations but graciously found time for a little chat with media guests.
Then there’s the Alive Museum at Suntec City Mall, with more than 80 artwork exhibits coming alive with 3D painting, shading, and drawing techniques that create visual illusions (yes, like the Trick Eye Museum in Seoul, Korea). Not only can you see the paintings, you can paint yourself into the frame, too.
At Resorts World Sentosa, with communications manager Clement Ng as our indefatigable guide, we visited Madame Tussauds and got to meet Hollywood Alisters like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, sports stars like David Beckham, movie greats like Audrey Hepburn (imagine having breakfast at Tiffany’s with this fair lady), music legends like the Beatles, and international icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew with his wife — that is, their wax statues.
Last (but certainly not the least), we visited the Mint Museum of Toys. The world’s first museum for toys not just for little boys and girls, MINT stands for Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys, which is exactly what you’ll feel as you tour this museum with curator Richard Tan or marketing executive Aisya. This awesome collection of vintage toys, which includes rare and unique oneof-a-kind pieces, is owned by Singaporean Chang Yang Fa. A must-visit for toy collectors, it is said to be the largest collection of its kind in Southeast Asia with more than 50,000 vintage toys and childhood memorabilia gathered from more than 40 countries, including Singapore, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, and even Bulgaria. The collection harks back to the mid-19th century and the mid-20th century. One of the most expensive toys is a 1930s Mickey Mouse with teeth (he was never depicted with teeth) pushing an organ grinder with Minnie dancing on top of Tit. It fetched 46,000 pounds at a London auction. here are dolls in Chinese costumes made by women who were taught how to handsew silk embroidered clothes by author Pearl Buck. There are Michael Lee’s 1946 dolls, which this diminutive artist, who measured only four feet tall, painstakingly made in handpainted fabric. The kind and gentle Lee used the proceeds from his dolls to send indigent children to school. He believed that by lighting one candle, he helps you light a candle and you help another light a candle, and on and on until there are many candles. The light on Lee’s candle was snuffed out in 1996; he was 92.
If all this doesn’t give you the high you wanted, this one surely won’t disappoint — Singapore Flyer Signature Cocktail/Singapore Sling Ride! After all, Singapore Flyer is Asia’s largest observation wheel, towering 165 meters above the city. While sipping our Singapore Sling (a sweet, smooth cocktail made of gin, cherry brandy, lime juice, pineapple juice, etc.), we enjoyed a breathtaking night view of the Marina Bay on our Singapore Sling Flight. “After you’ve tasted it (Singapore Sling), you can say you’ve been to Singapore,” says our guide Josephine. She adds, “Our landscape changes all the time. This is the most exciting time to come to Singapore with lots of new attractions.”
Speaking of new attractions, there’s the fairly new Gardens by the Bay that boasts the Flower Dome where it’s forever spring; Cloud Forest with 60,000 tropical plants nestled 2,000 meters above sea level and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall; Secret Garden with its prehistoric ferns, Crystal Mountain, and Lost World; Children’s Garden; Heritage Gardens; World of Plants with its Secret Life of Trees, Fruits and Flowers, and Web of Life; and, not to forget, the majestic Supertrees standing 22 meters above the ground. All in all, Gardens by the Bay is a wondrous, awe-inspiring creation spread out on 101 hectares (or approximately 177 football fields) of prime land by the water. Located in the heart of Singapore’s Marina Bay district, it’s being groomed to become the Central Park of Asia.
Surely, it’s always the best time to visit Singapore. And you’ll never run out of reasons to visit again and again and again. Right lah?